Weldability Evaluation and Microstructure Analysis of Resistance‐Spot‐Welded High‐Mn Steel in Automotive Application

In this paper, resistance spot weldability of high‐Mn steels were investigated in order to get high reliability in welded joints of automotive components. Microstructural characterizations, cross‐tensile test (CTT), microhardness tests of spot welded parts were conducted. The effects of weld current on the microstructural characteristics, mechanical properties, and fracture modes were investigated using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hardness in the weld nugget was observed to be lower than that in the base metal (BM). In CTT, the failure initiation was observed to occur at the boundary of the weld nugget. Also welding imperfections of welded parts were investigated. Liquation cracking in heat affected zone (HAZ), porosity, and shrinkage cavity were found most common welding defects in welded parts. Furthermore, the effects of welding imperfections on weld quality and failure criteria were identified and discussed.     

Comparing Properties of Adhesive Bonding, Resistance Spot Welding, and Adhesive Weld Bonding of Coated and Uncoated DP 600 Steel

 Zinc coated dual phase 600 steel (DP 600 grade) was investigated, utilisation of which has gradually increased with each passing day in the automotive industry. The adhesive bonding (AB), resistance spot welding (RSW), and adhesive weld bonding (AWB) joints of the zinc coated DP 600 steel were investigated. Additionally, the zinc coating was removed using HCL acid in order to investigate the effect of the coating. The microstructure, tensile shear strengths, and fracture properties of adhesive bonding (AB), resistance spot welding (RSW), and adhesive weld bonding (AWB) joints of the coated and uncoated DP 600 steel were compared. In addition, a mechanical-electrical-thermal coupled model in a finite element analysis environment was utilised. The thermal profile phenomenon was calculated by simulating this process. The results of the tensile shear test indicated that the tensile load bearing capacity (TLBC) values of the coated specimens among the three welding methods were higher than those of the uncoated specimens. Additionally, the tensile strength of the AWB joints of the coated and uncoated specimens was higher than that of the AB and RSW joints. It was determined that the fracture behaviours and the deformation caused were different for the three welding methods.     

High cycle fatigue behavior of DP980 steel and DP980 steel laser welded joints

For the study of the DP980 steel high cycle fatigue property, high fatigue tests of DP980 steel and DP980 steel laser welded joints were carried out with fatigue testing machine, the Basquin equation was concluded. Microstructures and fractures were analyzed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results show that DP980 steel laser welding joints have the weld concavity at the welding root and top, the quality of welded joints is medium. The fatigue limit of DP980 steel is 341MPa, the fatigue limit of DP980 steel laser welded joint is 148MPa, the fatigue limit decreases by 50% compared with the fatigue limit of the base metal. For DP980 steel, the crystal boundary of the ferrite/martensite is the main location of micro cracks initiation, the fatigue fracture of DP980 steel is the quasi cleavage fracture. For DP980 steel laser welding joints, the fatigue cracks initiation is located in the weld concavity, not in the heat affected zone, the fatigue fracture is cleavage fracture. DP980 steel and DP980 steel laser welding joints crack propagation is characterized by the obviously fatigue striations coupled with secondary cracks.     

DP980钢及DP980钢激光焊接接头的高周疲劳性能

摘要：为了研究DP980钢的高周疲劳性能,采用疲劳试验机对DP980钢和DP980钢激光焊接接头进行高周疲劳试验,得到Basquin方程,并利用光学金相显微镜和扫描电镜进行组织和断口分析。结果表明：DP980钢激光焊接接头的焊缝根部和顶部出现形状凹陷,焊接接头的质量为中等。DP980钢疲劳极限为341MPa,DP980钢激光焊接接头的疲劳极限为148MPa,激光焊接接头的疲劳极限较母材的疲劳极限降低约50%。对于DP980钢而言,铁素体/马氏体晶界是裂纹萌生的主要位置,疲劳断口为准解理断口。对于DP980钢激光焊接接头而言,疲劳裂纹源位于焊缝凹陷处,而非热影响区及母材,疲劳断口为解理断口。DP980钢和DP980钢激光焊接接头的疲劳裂纹扩展区均有明显的疲劳条带,并伴随有二次裂纹。     

热输入对DP600激光焊组织和力学性能的影响

摘要：为了研究DP600钢的焊接性能,采用5种不同的激光焊接工艺进行焊接试验。结果表明,焊接接头表面成形质量良好,随着热输入的增加,上下熔宽逐渐增大;熔融区均为板条状马氏体组织,当热输入高于33J/mm时热影响区组织为马氏体、铁素体和少量的回火马氏体;当热输入低于33J/mm时,热影响区组织为马氏体和铁素体。在低热输入条件下,回火时间很短,马氏体未发生分解;在高的热输入条件下,回火时间较长,马氏体分解显著,热影响区中出现M3C型碳化物,碳化物形貌以球状和片状为主。从熔融区到母材,显微硬度值逐渐降低;焊接接头静态拉伸失效位置均在母材,拉伸断口为韧性断口,DP600钢激光焊接接头不存在软化现象。     

Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of API X90 Pipeline Steel Welded Joints

In this work, X90 pipeline steel was welded by shielded metal arc welding with root and submerged arc welding with calk and cap. After that, the joint was tempered at 550 °C and 600 °C. Subsequently, the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Vickers hardness tester. The fracture surface of welded joint was analyzed by SEM. The experiments show that: After high-temperature tempering treatment, the Widmanstatten structure disappears in coarse-grained region. The number of lath martensite in the original structure of the welded joint decreases, and the quantity of granular bainite increases. The acicular ferrite disappears gradually and the polygonal ferrite grains increase, and the M/A island components decompose into fine grains with the increase in tempering temperature. The mechanical properties of the joints also change and the hardness rises because of the disappearance of Widmanstatten structure improves after heat treatment, and yield strength and tensile strength of the specimens have the lowest values after tempering at 550 °C. After tempering at 600 °C, the hardness decreases and strength–ductility reaches 11,571 MPa%. The tensile fracture of 600 °C sample presents delamination and ductile fracture. Through comparative analysis, it can be concluded that the plasticity and toughness of multilayer welded joints after tempering at 600 °C is improved, and they have better comprehensive mechanical properties.

     

On the Failure Behavior of Highly Cold Worked Low Carbon Steel Resistance Spot Welds

Highly cold worked (HCW) low carbon steel sheets with cellular structure in the range of 200 to 300 nm are fabricated via constrained groove pressing process. Joining of the sheets is carried out by resistance spot welding process at different welding currents and times. Thereafter, failure behavior of these welded samples during tensile-shear test is investigated. Considered concepts include; failure load, fusion zone size, failure mode, ultimate shear stress, failure absorbed energy, and fracture surface. The results show that HCW low carbon steel spot welds have higher failure peak load with respect to the as-received one at different welding currents and times. Also, current limits for failure mode transition from interfacial to pullout or from pullout to tearing are reduced for HCW samples. Fusion zone size is the main geometrical factor which affects the failure load variations. Ultimate shear stress of spot welds is increased with decreasing the heat input and for HCW samples at a specific welding current and time, it is lower than that of the as-received ones. Before pullout mode, failure absorbed energy (FAE) for HCW low carbon steel spot welds is higher than that of the as-received one, but after failure mode transition, trend would be vice versa and FAE of the as-received spot welds is extremely higher (about 3 times). In addition, spot welds fracture surface (in interfacial failure mode) for HCW sample is more dimpled which indicates higher energy absorption than that of the as-received one.     

Effect of Welding Current and Time on the Microstructure,Mechanical Characterizations,and Fracture Studies of Resistance Spot Welding Joints of AISI 316L Austenitic Stainless Steel

This article aims at investigating the effect of welding parameters, namely, welding current and welding time, on resistance spot welding (RSW) of the AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel sheets. The influence of welding current and welding time on the weld properties including the weld nugget diameter or fusion zone, tensile-shear load-bearing capacity of welded materials, failure modes, energy absorption, and microstructure of welded nuggets was precisely considered. Microstructural studies and mechanical properties showed that the region between interfacial to pullout mode transition and expulsion limit is defined as the optimum welding condition. Electron microscopic studies indicated different types of delta ferrite in welded nuggets including skeletal, acicular, and lathy delta ferrite morphologies as a result of nonequilibrium phases, which can be attributed to a fast cooling rate in the RSW process. These morphologies were explained based on Shaeffler, WRC-1992, and pseudo-binary phase diagrams. The optimum microstructure and mechanical properties were achieved with 8-kA welding current and 4-cycle welding time in which maximum tensile-shear load-bearing capacity or peak load of the welded materials was obtained at 8070 N, and the failure mode took place as button pullout with tearing from the base metal. Finally, fracture surface studies indicated that elongated dimples appeared on the surface as a result of ductile fracture in the sample welded in the optimum welding condition.     

Effect of Autogenous Arc Welding Processes on Tensile and Impact Properties of Ferritic Stainless Steel Joints

 The effect of autogeneous arc welding processes on tensile and impact properties of ferritic stainless steel conformed to AISI 409M grade is studied. Rolled plates of 4 mm thickness have been used as the base material for preparing single pass butt welded joints. Tensile and impact properties, microhardness, microstructure, and fracture surface morphology of continuous current gas tungsten arc welding (CCGTAW), pulsed current gas tungsten arc welding (PCGTAW), and plasma arc welding (PAW) joints are evaluated and the results are compared. It is found that the PAW joints of ferritic stainless steel show superior tensile and impact properties when compared with CCGTAW and PCGTAW joints, and this is mainly due to lower heat input, finer fusion zone grain diameter, and higher fusion zone hardness.     

Effect of Welding Processes on Tensile and Impact Properties, Hardness and Microstructure of AISI 409M Ferritic Stainless Joints Fabricated by Duplex Stainless Steel Filler Metal

The effect of welding processes such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding on tensile and impact properties of the ferritic stainless steel conforming to AISI 409M grade is studied. Rolled plates of 4 mm thickness were used as the base material for preparing single pass butt welded joints. Tensile and impact properties, microhardness, microstructure and fracture surface morphology of the welded joints have been evaluated and the results are compared. From this investigatio.n, it is found that gas tungsten arc welded joints of ferritic stainless steel have superior tensile and impact properties compared with shielded metal are and gas metal arc welded joints and this is mainly due to the presence of finer grains in fusion zone and heat affected zone.     

Si-Mn系超高强度热成形淬火钢板的点焊性能

 采用不同的点焊工艺参数对研发的1700MPa级Si-Mn系热成形淬火钢板与低碳钢板DC04进行异种材料之间点焊,并对焊接接头的拉伸性能、显微硬度分布及微观组织特征等进行了分析。结果表明,焊接电流对点焊接头熔核直径和抗剪强度具有显著的影响,而焊接时间的影响相对较小。超高强度钢板侧的热影响区存在两个明显的软化区和硬化区,即在靠近母材处存在一个硬度明显低于母材的软化区,其组织为回火马氏体;在靠近熔核处存在一个硬度明显高于母材的硬化区,其组织为细小的马氏体。点焊接头熔核部位为柱状粗大马氏体组织,其硬度明显低于超高强度钢板母材且远高于低碳钢板母材。低碳钢板热影响区低的硬度和明显粗化的铁素体组织,使得点焊接头单向拉伸时均从低碳钢板的热影响区一侧破断。     

Optimization of friction stir spot welding process parameters of dissimilar Al 5083 and C 10100 joints using response surface methodology

Using response surface methodology, optimization of friction stir spot welding process parameters of dissimilar Al 5083 and C 10100 joints were experimented. The predominant requirement was to obtain reduced interface hardness and increased tensile shear failure load. For specification of experimental conditions, central composite design matrix was used, with three factors and five levels. With Al 5083 alloy and C 10100 copper twenty joints were made. Experimentally, tensile shear failure load and interface hardness were measured. Significant main parameters and interaction process parameters were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Regression analysis was used for development of empirical relationship. Design expert software was used for optimization of friction stir spot welding process parameters by using response graphs and constructing contour plots. At 95% confidence level, prediction of tensile shear failure load and interface hardness of the dissimilar Al 5083—C 10100 joints were done using the empirical relations that were developed. The optimum conditions of Al 5083—C 10100 joints by friction stir spot welding process were evaluated using contour plots.     

780 MPa级冷成型用热连轧回火钢板的工业化生产

 抗拉强度780 MPa级冷成型用热连轧高强钢在工程起重机和混凝土泵车上得到了广泛使用。为进一步改善此种高强钢的力学性能与使用性能,对其热轧卷开平后的横切钢板在热连轧带钢热处理线进行回火热处理。对回火钢板的力学性能、焊接性能、压型性能和显微组织进行检验与分析。结果表明：热轧钢板经回火热处理后,钢板强度和硬度有明显提高,冲击韧性与伸长率略有降低,横向与纵向力学性能差异减小;焊后失强率降低,焊接接头力学性能得到改善;压型性能得到极大改善。在微观结构上,回火后钢板的组织类型无显著改变,但部分铁素体晶粒长大、粗化,回火后铁素体中位错密度降低,近等轴位错胞状结构增多,而固溶Ti、Nb、Mo元素以（Ti,Nb,Mo）C形式继续析出,产生沉淀硬化。     

Shear Fracture of Advanced High Strength Steels

Failure experiments were carried out through a stretch-bending test system for advanced high strength steels, i.e. dual-phase （DP） steels and martensitic steels （MS）. The die radius in this system was designed from 1 to 15 mm to investigate the failure mode under different geometries. Two failure modes were observed during the ex- periments. As a result, critical relative radii （the ratio of inner bending radius R to sheet thickness t） for DP590 and DP780 steels were obtained. The stretch-bending tests of DP980 display some trends unlike DP590 and DP780 steels, and curve of DP980 in different thicknesses does not coincide well. High blank holder force exhibits more possibility of shear fracture tendency than low blank holder force. The unique character of high strength martensitic steel （1500MS） is that no shear fracture is found especially over small bending radius （R =2 mm） under the same experi- mental conditions. Microstructure analysis indicates that there are obviously elongated grains on shear fracture sur- face. It shows smaller diameter and shallower depth of the dimples than the necking failure.     

高铝310S耐热钢板材的焊接性能简

 对铝含量为2%、4%(质量分数,下同)的310S耐热钢板材采用手工氩弧焊(TIG)的焊接方法进行焊接,利用光学显微镜对焊缝的显微组织进行分析,利用电子探针(EMPA)分析焊接母材的元素分布,并对焊接接头进行室温和高温(800℃)力学性能测试。结果表明：不同铝含量的310S耐热钢板材焊接后的组织均良好,都没有宏观裂纹及夹杂等缺陷;铝元素的加入,抑制了焊接热影响区晶粒的异常长大,细化了晶粒;高铝310S的焊接板材与母材一样具有优良的室温力学性能和高温力学性能,加铝310S耐热钢具有良好的焊接性能。     

6005A铝合金CMT与MIG焊接头组织及性能研究

针对2mm厚6005A铝合金采用冷金属过渡(CMT)和熔化极惰性气体保护(MIG)焊接技术进行焊接,研究了两种焊接接头的力学性能、拉伸断口形貌,接头不同位置的微观组织。研究表明,CMT焊接头的抗拉强度好于MIG焊接头,达到母材的70%,焊缝组织更为细小;两种焊接接头断裂位置均为热影响区,CMT焊接接头为韧性断裂,MIG焊接接头为韧性断裂与准解理断裂的混合断裂。     

K-TIG焊接中厚板的工艺窗口改进

针对穿孔深熔氩弧焊(K-TIG)工艺焊接8 mm厚Q235低碳钢板时焊接过程不稳定、焊接工艺窗口小等突出问题,首次提出在焊接工件背部铺加保护焊剂的方法改善焊接过程。采用对接焊的方式,在不开坡口、焊接过程不添加焊丝的情况下,达到单面焊双面成形的效果。最终成功的采用430～480 A范围内的直流电流对8 mm厚的Q235低碳钢进行了焊接,将焊接电流窗口扩大到50 A同时也显著的提高了焊接过程的稳定性。同时,在扩大焊接电流窗口之后,系统研究了不同焊接电流下焊接接头的组织性能。研究结果表明:在不同焊接电流下得到的焊接接头中,组织分布以及力学性能分布呈现出相同的状态。焊缝区的组织均由铁素体+珠光体+魏氏组织组成;熔合区由魏氏组织组成;热影响区由铁素体+少量的珠光体组成;此外随着焊接电流的增加,焊接接头背部的熔宽有略微增加;在焊接接头中,熔合区处硬度值最高,其次是焊缝区,之后是热影响区,母材的硬度值最低;焊接接头最终的拉伸断裂位置是在热影响区处。      

Evaluation on Fatigue Performance and Fracture Mechanism of Laser Welded TWIP Steel Joint Based on Evolution of Microstructure and Micromechanical Properties

The fatigue performance and fracture mechanism of laser welded twinning induced plasticity(TWIP)steel joint were investigated experimentally based on the evolution of microstructure and micromechanical properties.The optical microscopy was used to analyze the evolution of microstructure.The variation of composition and phase structure of fusion zone were detected by energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction spectrometers.The micromechanical behaviors of the various zones were characterized using nanoindentation.The static tensile test and high cycle fatigue test were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of welded joint and base metal.The microstructures,tensile properties and fatigue strength of base metal as well as welded metal were analyzed.The fatigue fracture surfaces of base metal and welded joint were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy,in order to identify fatigue crack initiation sites and propagation mechanisms.Moreover,the fatigue fracture characteristics and mechanisms for the laser welded TWIP steel joints were analyzed.     

Peak load and energy absorption of DP600 advanced steel resistance spot welds

The paper aims at investigating the microstructure, failure mode transition, peak load and energy absorption of DP600 dual phase steel during the tensile-shear test. It was found that the welding current has profound effect on the load–displacement characteristics. In the low welding current, welds failed in interfacial failure mode. Increasing welding current resulted in sufficient weld nugget growth to promote double-sided pullout failure mode with improved mechanical properties. Further increase in the welding current caused expulsion and failure mode was changed to single-sided pullout with reduced energy absorption capability. It was found that the fusion zone size is the key parameter controlling the mechanical properties of DP600 resistance spot welds in terms of peak load, maximum displacement and failure energy.     

Investigation on the Failure Mechanism of DP590-22MnB5 (Quenched) and DP590-DP590 Spot-Welding Joints

The failure mechanism of DP590-22MnB5(quenched) and DP590-DP590 spot-welding joints is studied through lap-shearing experiments,metallographic observation and three-dimensional finite element simulation.Both joints cracked on the DP590 steel,but the tensile shear strength of the DP590-22MnB5(quenched) joint is greater than that of the DP590-DP590 joint.A finite element model for the lap-shearing experiment is established according to the mechanical properties of DP590 and 22MnB5(quenched) steels and the metallographic analysis of welding spots.The simulation results show that the difference in the axis rotation of the two welding spots causes different distributions of stress and strain,which shifts shear loading condition to opening loading condition.Due to larger axis rotation angle of the DP590-DP590 joint,the stress concentration occurs at the middle of the nugget circumference,and it results in lower tensile shear strength of the DP590-DP590 joint.